Graham Central Station

Graham Central Station was an American funk band named after founder Larry Graham (formerly of Sly and the Family Stone). The name is a pun on New York City's Grand Central Terminal, often colloquially called Grand Central Station.

Origins
The band's origins date from when Santana guitarist Neal Schon formed the band Azteca in 1972 along with Larry Graham (bass guitar) and Gregg Errico (drums), both from Sly and the Family Stone, and Pete Sears (keyboards), from Hot Tuna and Jefferson Starship. Santana bass guitar player Tom Rutley moved into the bass spot with Azteca. That band, like Santana with heavy Latin influences, eventually morphed into Graham Central Station, while Schon formed Journey. The invention of electric slap bass is attributed by many (including Victor Wooten and Bootsy Collins) to Graham, which influenced many musical genres, such as funk, R&B and disco.

Highlights
In 1974, they released the single "Can You Handle It?". It peaked at number 9 on the R&B charts and number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. Graham Central Station's biggest hit was "Your Love", which charted at number 1 on the R&B charts in 1975. The same year they issued a cover version of the Detroit Emeralds 1972 hit "Feel the Need in Me". It reached number 18 on the R&B charts and this would be the bands only hit in the UK peaking at number 53. The group also integrated gospel music into their repertoire, and played with the dichotomy between the funk/rock star image and the "sanctified" gospel group image. Some of their recordings feature the Tower of Power horn section.

In 2011, Graham Central Station opened for Prince on Prince's "Welcome 2 America" tour.

Members

 * Larry Graham – vocals, bass, guitar, clavinet, organ, piano, drums, percussion
 * Lenny Williams – vocals
 * Patryce Banks – vocals, electric funk box (Maestro Rhythm King), tambourine
 * Ashling Cole – vocals, electric funk box (Maestro Rhythm King)
 * Tina Graham – vocals, electric funk box (Maestro Rhythm King)
 * David Vega – vocals, guitar
 * Gail Muldrow – vocals, guitar, electric funk box
 * George Johnson – vocals, guitar
 * Wilton Rabb – guitar
 * Freddie Stone – guitar
 * Gemi Taylor – guitar
 * Hershall Kennedy – vocals, clavinet, trumpet
 * Robert "Butch" Sam – vocals, piano, organ
 * David Council – vocals, keyboards
 * Jimi McKinney Jr. – vocals, keyboards
 * Rose Stone – vocals, organ, electric funk box
 * Cynthia Robinson – trumpet
 * P. CaboOse – tenor saxophone
 * Jerry Martini – saxophone
 * Dennis Marcellino – saxophone
 * Willie Sparks – vocals, drums
 * Manuel Kellough – drums
 * Noel T. Closson – drums
 * Gaylord Birch – drums
 * Brian Braziel – drums
 * Milt Holland – percussion

Live albums

 * Live in Japan '92' (1992) Star Maker – manufactured by PIA Corporation & Edoya Records Inc. (Tokyo, Japan)
 * Live in London (1996) – Funk24 (London, England)
 * Can You Handle This? (2003) – Kezar Stadium – 1975, Big Fro Discs (Japan)

Compilation albums

 * The Best of Larry Graham and Graham Central Station, Vol. 1 (Warner Bros, 1996)
 * The Jam: The Larry Graham & Graham Central Station Anthology (Rhino, 2001)
 * Greatest Hits (Rhino Flashback, 2003)